Jeff Bobo

ROGERSVILLE — Former Rogersville prosecutor Doug Godbee's law license will remain suspended based on a Tennessee Supreme Court decision last week that stated Godbee still poses "a substantial harm to the public."

Godbee had filed a motion to dissolve the temporarily law license suspension that was imposed Aug. 6 at the behest of the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility.

Godbee's motion was heard before a three-judge panel in Knoxville last Thursday. TBPR senior litigation counsel Sandy Garrett told the Times-News that after the hearing the Tennessee Supreme Court on Friday entered another temporary suspension against Godbee.

Godbee's law license was temporarily suspended Aug. 6 by the Tennessee Supreme Court in light of allegations made by a female client that he was trading legal services for sexual favors. The prosecutor in Godbee's pending criminal case said that's not a crime and is akin to having sex after buying someone dinner.

The TBPR has different standards, however, and the allegations were used as grounds for the Aug. 6 suspension. Godbee has been practicing law mainly in Hawkins County since resigning as the county's chief prosecutor two years ago.

His resignation in 2010 came amid allegations he solicited, and in some cases received, sex from female drug defendants and/or their mothers in exchange for leniency.

Last year Godbee was indicted by a Hawkins County grand jury on a single count of felony official misconduct based on allegations made by nine alleged victims. That criminal case is still pending.